The Colony of Pennsylvania, one of the original thirteen colonies, was founded by an Englishman by the name of William Penn in 1682. Penn was sent from England by King Charles II, who granted him land ownership in the Middle Colony. By order of the King, Penn established the Colony of Pennsylvania to seek religious freedom. Economically, the Colony of Pennsylvania thrived due to its rich farmland and successful trade. Penn’s knowledge and principles in establishing the colony were influential throughout Pennsylvania’s modern times. The thirteen original colonies were divided into three different sections; New England, Middle and Southern Colonies. The Middle Colony included the colonies of New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Specifically, the Pennsylvania Colony, was mostly an agricultural community. The ideal climate and good quality soil was perfect for farming. The …show more content…
The Pennsylvania area was not dominated by a specific religion. There were Catholics, Lutherans, Jewish and others. William Penn had very liberal views and wanted religious freedom. The religious diversity of this area made it very desirable for Penn and his settlers from England. Penn was a member of the “Society of Friends” or Quakers. Penn and his followers were gentle, peace-loving people that got along well with the native Indians. Due to the success of the colony’s agriculture, this lead to a profitable trade business. Crops such as corn and wheat were exported back to England. The Pennsylvania Colony was nicknamed the “The Breadbasket Colony” because flour was produced from the wheat crop and was shipped to England. Other exports included livestock, timber and fur. Natural resources exported included coal and iron ore. In addition, ship building became an important export for the Colony. The trade business was a positive economic security for the Colony and it’s